Kochi, April 1 Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian said on Wednesday that the government and the police are supporting the victim, not Malayalam film director Ranjith, who is accused of attempted sexual assault.
Ranjith, who was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, claimed that the accusations against him were "false" and that they would be proven.
He made the claim to reporters while being taken inside the sub-jail here.
Cherian told reporters that "such acts will not be tolerated by the government or society," and that the government and the police are supporting the victim.
Ranjith was appointed as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy in 2022 and resigned from the post in 2024.
The minister said that Ranjith was appointed to the post because he was qualified for it, and there were no such allegations against him at that time.
"He has been running the academy well. When such allegations arose earlier, he had already resigned. We are taking these repeated allegations very seriously. Neither the police nor the government is protecting him," he said.
He said that the quick action taken against the director is a result of recent changes in the film sector, including the holding of the cinema conclave and the state film policy.
"Let the investigation proceed," he added.
The minister also said that anyone in the film sector who has had a similar bad experience can come forward with a complaint, and they can be confident that the government will support them.
The director was arrested late last night in connection with an attempted sexual assault case.
According to the police, the female actress alleged that the director had invited her to a caravan during the filming of a movie and attempted to sexually assault her.
Ranjith had previously faced allegations of sexual harassment following revelations in the Justice K. Hema Committee report on harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry.
In 2024, a case was registered against Ranjith after a Bengali actress filed a complaint with the Kochi City Police Commissioner.
The complaint, sent via email, alleged that Ranjith had inappropriately touched her with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the film "Paleri Manikyam" in 2009.